"Now what are you gonna do about it?" - Page 4

Giancarlo · April 25, 2003, 16:55

And here is why....

http://fpeng.peopledaily.com.cn/2000...009_52131.html

Quote:

South Korea's total volume of exports to China in the eight months was 24.4 billion dollars, up 34.9 percent from the year-ago level, while imports stood at 12.15 billion, up 58.6 percent.

Not the $40 billion, I thought but still highly substantial, and growing rapidly.

Edit: Oops that link is too old...

Here is a better one: http://www.uschina.org/statistics/ch...rformance.html

Why China will probably want South Korea, Japan and US to stay safe...

Q Classic · April 25, 2003, 16:58

all in all, however, i don't think china has the will--or the balls--to ever invade nkorea.

they'd win, of course, but they'd also probably lose a lot of good will with skorea, and possibly even japan.

Giancarlo · April 25, 2003, 16:59

Well Qcubed, look at that chart. I think the will is denoted by the terms in dollars.

Q Classic · April 25, 2003, 16:59

eh... i don't think hong kong should count in that last chart, imho...

Q Classic · April 25, 2003, 17:00

yes, but fez-- i don't think skoreans will take too kindly to nkorea being invaded by non-koreans...

Giancarlo · April 25, 2003, 17:01

Hong Kong is just listed to show the trade levels between the mainland and Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a part of the PRC but still is considered semi-autonomous.

Giancarlo · April 25, 2003, 17:03

Q Cubed, you are right. If North Korea falls it has to stay independent. Unification will cut 10% of the average South Korean income and perhaps increase unemployment substantially. I can see why a South Korean does not want a war to happen. Honestly, neither do I. Too much at stake..

Q Classic · April 25, 2003, 17:15

the downward direction of the korean economy after reunification is also true. however, i honestly can't imagine that the skoreans wouldn't be willing to endure some hardship in order to see some of their long lost relatives again--without having a military trooper observing them.

chequita guevara · April 25, 2003, 17:16

Where will I get my kim chee, bibem bop, and Korean BBQ if they go to war?

Giancarlo · April 25, 2003, 17:18

If done right, with proper reform, the economic damage a reunification causes would be minimalized. In reality, North Korea could easily be lifted to South Korean standards quickly with free market reforms. In Germany's case there wasn't enough proper steps taken when reunification occurred.

Q Classic · April 25, 2003, 17:24

che, i'll take you to mom's house.

as for minimizing the damage, yes. i'm somewhat concerned, however... if i can find that article, it mentions that skorea is unfortunately not learning all the lessons it needs to from germany.

Giancarlo · April 25, 2003, 17:26

Well I hope it does soon. Just throwing money at North Korea if reunification were to happen wouldn't solve a thing. Structural reforms need to occur. All West Germany did was throw money at East Germany.. it ended up in a disaster.

chequita guevara · April 25, 2003, 17:29

Quote:

Originally posted by Q Cubed
che, i'll take you to mom's house.

Urban Ranger · April 25, 2003, 23:36

Quote:

Originally posted by Q Cubed
hell, even I never thought that there could ever be a lasting peace in east asia. an uneasy peace, yes, but not a calm, lasting one as seen amongst the countries in western europe or north america.

There are only four countries in the region. The only problem I see right now is Japan, who still refuses to apologise for WWII.

GePap · April 25, 2003, 23:40

Reconstructing North Korea would be horribly expensive, far more than it cost to get East germany up to speed (still ahsn;t happened) and Germany had far more money to beign with than SKorea does. A war and the fatermath would do a huge nuber for a few years on the economy of SKorea, and have substantial impact on Japan and China.

Seeker · April 26, 2003, 00:54

But Q, don't you know that when the two koreas unite, they will form an unstoppable juggernaut putting all foreigners in their proper place?

(according to my high school students)

DinoDoc · April 26, 2003, 01:00

Quote:

Originally posted by Seeker
But Q, don't you know that when the two koreas unite, they will form an unstoppable juggernaut putting all foreigners in their proper place?

(according to my high school students)

I don't know whether to

or

at that statement.

Q Classic · April 26, 2003, 03:47

yeah, seeker, i'm well aware of that disturbing little belief amongst the young'uns.

what's even more unfortunate is that they'd be my contemporaries, were i born there instead of in the states.

if i remember right, one of the better selling novels in recent memory has been one in which skorea and nkorea unite, find that nkorea had the bomb, and decide to attack and nuke japan. oy.

i honestly wish the elders would dispel that bizarre nationalistic notion that seems to have cropped up...

Seeker · April 26, 2003, 09:39

There is a manga of this at the local store!

It's more popular than Scantily Clad Schoolgirls IX...(note: not a real manga to my knowledge)

Favourite REAL Korean food (most foreigners seem to stop at dungas and bee bim bap)

tak kalbi (Korean Chicken ribs)

water-kimchi (kimchi with white radish in water)

?duk galbi? (whatever those short,fat noodles are with the sweet and spicy red sauce. sometimes an egg.)

and of course the ever popular ja ja myung (which I was eating on 'Black Day', the informal reverse of 'White Day')

I'm getting tired of bulgogi. The local restuarant here has great side dishes though, especially if you order super-kalbi.

I really love the Korean red sauce, mixed red bean paste and red pepper. I'll miss it.

Sorry, what was the topic again?